A leftist adage posits that if voting changed anything, it would be illegal. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell as long as everyone stays home on Election Day. Even before the 2000 presidential election debacle tarnished the notion of the popular election, most Americans' belief in the importance of voting had long since begun its decline into a sea of apathy and disillusionment. In an effort to understand this phenomenon, acclaimed media artist and journalist Larry Litt has created a documentary video, The Blame Show: Before You Don't Vote, which he'll discuss at the Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art (601 Lake Ave., Lake Worth). Before You Don't Vote is the third installment in a series of documentaries Litt has created in an attempt to gauge public opinion regarding current issues. In his first video, Dissent = Freedom, Litt discussed the issue of homeland security with average folks, asking them who should be blamed for the September 11 terrorist attacks. The second video, Polite, Politic and Political, deals with public mistrust of corporate America and the government's role in the securities market. Litt's idea for The Blame Show was inspired by Thomas Patterson's report "The Vanishing Voter: Public Involvement in an Age of Uncertainty," which surveyed 1,000 Americans during the 2000 presidential election to find out why interest in the political process has decayed so much in the past several decades. This motivated Litt to do his own research, meeting with more than 50 voters in New York and in Palm Beach County to get their opinions on political matters. As a result, Litt found that people who talk about politics are more likely to vote and engage in the political process than those who merely consume information from mainstream media outlets or avoid it altogether. Admission for Before You Don't Vote is free. Call 561-582-0006, option 6. For more information or to post your opinion regarding the video, visit www.palmbeachica.org. -- Jason Budjunski
SAT 7/26
Snap, crackle...
Make it Go Pop!
In a 1998 interview with David Bowie, Roy Lichtenstein discussed his initial use of Mickey Mouse in his art: "He's such an American symbol and such an anti-art symbol." Lichtenstein defined American pop art with bold outlines and vivid colors. His subjects were initially from true romance or adventure comics, as well as from the Yellow Pages. The Boca Raton Museum of Art (501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton) presents "Roy Lichtenstein: Portrait of an Artist" as part of its Saturday Film Series. In the film, the pop icon discusses his views on contemporary art and the history behind his works, many of which are on display at the museum. The film shows at 3 p.m. in the museum's Wolgin Auditorium and is free with paid admission. Call 561-392-2500. -- Audra Schroeder
WED 7/30
An Artistic Impression
Time once again for VSA Arts of Florida's annual exhibit, "Impressions of Art," which opens at the Lighthouse Center for the Arts (Gallery Square North, 373 Tequesta Dr., Tequesta) on Wednesday. Unlike the long-term exhibitions museum patrons may be familiar with, the VSA display continues for only four days. VSA Arts of Florida promotes artistic endeavors among more than 1,800 people with disabilities in the Palm Beach County area alone. Among the artists who have contributed their masterpieces to the exhibit are jewelry makers Abbigail Hummer and Jason McKenna and watercolorist Kathryn Kaminski, all of whom prove that a disability hardly means an inability, especially where artwork is concerned. Call 561-746-3101. -- Dan Sweeney
FRI 7/25
Roll Away
Lace up your skates and start practicing your dance moves, because roller skating is on the menu for all teens Friday at Galaxy Skating Center (7500 Southgate Blvd., North Lauderdale).
So what can you expect when the "Teen Night" doors open at 7:30 p.m.? For starters, lots of music, thanks to a DJ spinning pop hits from the likes of Justin Timberlake and Britney. The loud fun, which also includes a dance-off, goes till midnight.
Admission is $7 per person. You can bring your own skates, but if you need some, rental is $2. Just make sure not to forget socks, because no one wants to deal with your unclad feet, especially the skates. Call 954-721-0580. -- Russ Evans
